2011 Somaly Mam Foundation East Coast Gala

NEW YORK-OCTOBER 20: 2011 Somaly Mam Foundation East Coast Gala on October 20, 2011 at ESPACE 635 West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th Avenues, New York City, NY. The program included remarks by: Somaly Mam, H.E. Hun Kimleng (wife of the Chief of Police in Cambodia) and two survivors Hok Sokleang and Chea Lingya. Also attending was musical artist Chloe Flower who performed "Revolution", an original work which she has donated the proceeds from iTunes sales to the Somaly Mam Foundation. Honorees: Philip K. Kowalczyk, President of The Body Shop Americas, received the Voices of Change Corporate Award; Russell Simmons, CEO of Rush Communications, Inc received the Voices of Change Award; and Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues,received the Voices of Change Ambassador Award Co-Chairs included: Lauren Bush, Deepak Chopra, Kerry Girvin, Bianca Mead, Andy and Laura Heery Prozes, Susan Sarandon and Shelley Simmons. Notable guests that attended included: Padma Lakshmi, Ron Livingston, Somaly Mam, Annalynne McCord, Petra Nemcova, Susan Sarandon, Russell Simmons, Her Excellency Hun Kimleng, Ambassador Luis C de Baca (Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department), and Melanne Verveer. About: The founding of the Somaly Mam Foundation was made possible by circumstance, when trafficking survivor and activist Somaly Mam crossed paths with two Americans determined to help build global awareness and support for the fight against child slavery. Here's the story: In early 2007, friends and Air Force Academy graduates, Jared Greenberg and Nicholas Lumpp, became aware of a growing international crisis. The sex slave trade had developed into the third most profitable criminal industry, behind only narcotics and weapons. Governments had yet to effectively handle the problem, and funding for organizations fighting the illegal trade was minimal. Disturbed by the public's lack of awareness of these ongoing atrocities, Jared and Nicholas decided it was time to take action and help put an end to sexual slavery, once and for all. But with an industry that generates $12 billion a year, enslaves millions of young women and children, and is protected by corrupt government and law enforcement officials, they had their work cut out for them.Fate intervened a few months later when Jared and Nicholas viewed an online video clip of Anderson Cooper 360 and saw a show spotlighting an extraordinary woman by the name of Somaly Mam. Sold into slavery at the age of 12, she later escaped and made it her mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate victims. The result was AFESIP, an organization that has transformed the lives of thousands of victims of the illegal trade since its inception in 1996. Somaly is now regarded as one of the most prolific activists fighting sexual slavery. Jared and Nicholas hopped on a plane and traveled into the center of the sex slave industry. They talked with Somaly Mam, toured facilities, and met some of the young women who had been rescued. The experience changed their lives. Yet they realized that many people around the world do not know this industry even exists. Increasing awareness and funding organizations like AFESIP seemed paramount to combating the illegal trade. Then, during an inspiring conversation on a car ride from Phnom Pehn to Siem Reap, Somaly explained her vision for a U.S. based organization that would take her life's passion to the next level. The Somaly Mam Foundation was born. PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2011 by Christopher London | tel: Private | e-mail: bookings@manhattansociety.com PLEASE NOTE: Coverage for this event also appears in Panache Privee